Liquid sprayers

• US 6,502,766 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Good, Robert James, Sweeton, Steve Lynn, Langevin, Travis Edward, Streutker, Alen David, Ho, Ka-Nam, DiMaggio, Phillip Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US09/624,061
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 222/372, 222/382, 222/383.1, 222/383.2, 222/380, 222/333, 222/479, 239/329, 239/331, 239/332, 239/333, 239/337, 239/340, 239/347, 239/348, 239/349, 239/463, 239/464, 239/469, 239/471, 239/526, 239/527, 239/528, 239/571, 251/323, 251/321, 137/625.33, 137/625.28
• US Class Current: 239/332
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0044 compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means venting means for deformable containers B05B11/047
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/0206 Combined operation of electric switch and of fluid control device

Abstract

A liquid sprayer is provided. This liquid sprayer comprises a bottle having an opening and a sprayer housing attached to the bottle. This sprayer housing includes an electric motor, a voltage source for powering the electric motor, a pump driven by the motor, a switch for completing an electrical circuit, a nozzle mechanism attached to the sprayer housing for spraying a liquid. The liquid sprayer also comprises a venting mechanism. This venting mechanism comprises a vent housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a translating piston disposed in the vent housing.

Claims

1. A liquid sprayer comprising:

a bottle having an opening;

a sprayer housing attached to said bottle, said sprayer housing including an electric motor, a voltage source for powering said electric motor, a pump driven by said motor, a switch for completing an electrical circuit, a nozzle mechanism attached to said sprayer housing for spraying a liquid, a vent housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a translating piston disposed in said vent housing;

a trigger movably connected to said sprayer housing for closing said switch and translating said piston;

a first vent tube extending from said opening of said bottle to a first opening of said vent housing;

a second vent tube extending from a second opening of said vent housing to a first opening of said nozzle mechanism;

a pump supply tube extending from said opening of said bottle to an inlet of said pump; and

a pump discharge tube extending from an outlet of said pump to a second opening of said nozzle mechanism.

2. A liquid sprayer according to claim 1 wherein said translating piston comprises

a first substantially annular chevron member so that an edge of said first substantially annular chevron member is in contact with said inner surface of said vent housing so that the inner portion of the vent housing is divided into a first part and a second part and wherein air cannot flow from [one part to the other] the first part to the second part.

3. A liquid sprayer according to claim 2 wherein said translating piston comprises

a second substantially annular chevron member so that an edge of said second substantially annular chevron member is in contact with said inner surface of said vent housing and so that a first position of said translating piston in said vent housing prevents air from flowing between said first opening and said second opening of the vent housing and a second position of said translating piston in said vent housing enables air to flow between said first opening to said second opening of the vent housing and wherein said vent housing comprises at least one element projecting from said inner surface of the vent housing and located between said first and second opening of the vent housing so that translation of said translating piston towards said at least one projecting element causes said second substantially annular chevron member to at least partially deform and leave a gap that allows air to flow from said first opening to said second opening of the vent housing.

4. A liquid sprayer according to claim 3 wherein said element is a fin.

5. A liquid sprayer according to claim 4 wherein said vent housing comprises four fins.

6. A liquid sprayer according to claim 3 wherein said vent housing further comprises a compression spring so that said translating piston is subjected to the biasing action of said compression spring.

7. A liquid sprayer according to claim 1 further comprising a fitment disposed adjacent the bottom of said sprayer housing, said fitment comprising a first and a second through passage and wherein said first vent tube extends from said first opening of the vent housing to said first through passage of the fitment and said pump supply tube extends from said second through passage of the fitment to an inlet of said pump.

8. A liquid sprayer according to claim 7 wherein said fitment further comprises a first and a second check valve.

9. A liquid sprayer according to claim 8 wherein said first check valve is connected to said first through passage and prevents a liquid contained in said bottle from entering said first vent tube.

10. A liquid sprayer according to claim 8 wherein said second check valve is connected to said second through passage and prevents a liquid from reentering into said bottle.

11. A liquid sprayer according to claim 3 wherein said vent housing and said switch are arranged relative to said sprayer housing so that said switch is not closed by said trigger until said translating piston is in said second position.

12. A liquid sprayer according to claim 1 wherein said bottle contains a liquid.

13. A liquid sprayer according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle mechanism is located axially and upwardly away from said switch so that a liquid in the nozzle mechanism will drop away from said switch when a liquid contained in said bottle has entered in said first and second vent tubes.

14. A liquid sprayer according to claim 13 wherein said nozzle mechanism comprises a nozzle adapter, a discharge valve inserted in said nozzle adapter, spin mechanics connected to said discharge valve, and a nozzle mounted on said nozzle adapter.

15. A liquid sprayer according to claim 14 wherein said nozzle adapter comprises a first and a second opening, said first opening of the nozzle adapter is connected to said second vent tube and said second opening of the nozzle adapter is connected to said pump discharge tube.